Which we have noted in you to your kindred,
And equally, indeed, to all estates—

Yet know, whe'r you accept our suit or no,
Your brother's son shall never reign our king;
But we will plant some other in the throne,
To the disgrace and downfal of your house.
And, in this resolution, here we leave you ;—
Come, citizens, we will entreat no more.

790

[Exeunt. Cates. Call them again, sweet prince, accept their

suit;

If you deny them, all the land will rue it.

Glo. Will you enforce me to a world of cares? 800 Well, call them again; I am not made of stone, [Exit CATESBY.

But penetrable to your kind entreaties,
Albeit against my conscience and my soul.-

Re-enter BUCKINGHAM, and the Rest.

Cousin of Buckingham-and sage, grave men-
Since you will buckle fortune on my back,
To bear her burden, whe'r I will, or no,
I must have patience to endure the load:
But if black scandal, or foul-fac'd reproach,
Attend the sequel of your imposition,
Your meer enforcement shall acquittance me
From all the impure blots and stains thereof;
For God doth know, and you may partly see,
How far I am from the desire of this..

810

Mayor. God bless your grace! we see it, and will

say it.

Glo.

Glo. In saying so, you shall but say the truth. Buck. Then I salute you with this royal titleLong live king Richard, England's worthy king! All. Amen.

Buck. To-morrow may it please you to be crown'd ? Glo. Even when you please, for you will have it so. Buck. To-morrow then we will attend your grace; And so, most joyfully, we take our leave. 822 Glo. [To the Clergymen.] Come, let us to our holy work again :

Farewel, good cousin ;-farewel, gentle friends.

[Exeunt.

ACT IV. SCENE I.

Before the Tower.

Enter the Queen, Dutchess of YORK, and Marquis of DORSET, at one Door; Anne Dutchess of GLOSTER, leading Lady MARGARET PLANTAGENET, CLARENCE's young Daughter, at the other.

W

Ho meets us here

Dutchess.

my niece Plantagenet, Led in the hand of her kind aunt of Gloster ? Now, for my life, she's wand'ring to the Tower, On pure heart's love, to greet the tender prince.---. Daughter, well met.

Anne. God give your graces both A happy and a joyful time of day I

J

Queen.

Queen. As much to you, good sister! Whither

away?

Anne. No further than the Tower; and, as I guess, Upon the like devotion as yourselves,

To gratulate the gentle princes there.

10

Queen. Kind sister, thanks; we'll enter all toge

ther:

Enter BRAKENBURY.

And, in good time, here the lieutenant comes.-
Master lieutenant, pray you, by your leave,
How doth the prince, and my young son of York?

Brak. Right well, dear madam: By your patience, I may not suffer you to visit them;

The king hath strictly charg'd the contrary.

Queen. The king who's that?

Brak. I mean, the lord protector.

20

Queen. The lord protect him from that kingly title! Hath he set bounds between their love, and me? I am their mother, Who shall bar me from them?

Dutch. I am their father's mother, I will see them. Anne. Their aunt am I in law, in love their mother; Then bring me to their sights; I'll bear thy blame, And take thy office from thee, on my peril.

Brak. No, madam, no, I may not leave it so; I am bound by oath, and therefore pardon me.

[Exit BRAKENBURY.

Enter

Enter STANLEY.

31

Stan. Let me but meet you, ladies, one hour hence, And I'll salute your grace of York as mother, And reverend looker-on, of two fair queens.Come, madam, you must straight to Westminster, [To the Dutchess of GLOSTER.

There to be crowned Richard's royal queen.

Queen. Ah, cut my lace asunder!

That my pent heart may have some scope to beat,
Or else I swoon with this dead-killing news.

Anne. Despightful tidings! O unpleasing news I
Dors. Be of good cheer:-Mother, how fares your

grace?

41

Queen. O Dorset, speak not to me, get thee gone, Death and destruction dog thee at the heels; Thy mother's name is ominous to children: If thou wilt out-strip death, go cross the seas, And live with Richmond, from the reach of hell. Go, hie thee, hie thee from this slaughter-house, Lest thou increase the number of the dead; And make me die the thrall of Margaret's curse Nor mother, wife, nor England's counted queen. Stan. Full of wise care is this your counsel, ma

dam :

Take all the swift advantage of the hours;
You shall have letters from me to my son

In your behalf, to meet you on the way:
Be not ta'en tardy by unwise delay.

Dutch. O ill-dispersing wind of misery !—

50

O my

O my accursed womb, the bed of death;

A cockatrice hast thou hatch'd to the world,
Whose unavoided eye is murderous!

Stan. Come, madam, come; I in all haste was

sent.

Anne. And I with all unwillingness will go. O, would to God, that the inclusive verge Of golden metal, that must round my brow, Were red-hot steel, to sear me to the brain ! Anointed let me be with deadly venom;

And die, ere men can say-God save the queen! Queen. Go, go, poor soul, I envy not thy glory; To feed my humour, wish thyself no harm.

60

Anne. No! why-When he, that is my husband now,

Came to me, as I follow'd Henry's corse;

When scarce the blood was well wash'd from his

hands,

Which issu'd from my other angel husband,

70

And that dead saint which then I weeping follow'd;
O, when, I say, I look'd on Richard's face,
This was my wish-Be thou, quoth I, accurs'd,
For making me, so young, so old à widow !
And, when thou wed'st, let sorrow haunt thy bed;
And be thy wife (if any be so mad)

50 More miserable by the life of thee,

Than thou hast made me by my dear lord's death!
Lo, ere I can repeat this curse again,

Even in so short a space, my woman's heart
Grossly grew captive to his honey words,

80

And